‘Outlander’ Recap Season 5, Episode 8: “Famous Last Words”

Given everything that happened in “The Ballad of Roger Mac,” it seems only right that “Famous Last Words,” the eighth episode Outlander Season 5, would strike a more reflective tone. In the aftermath of the Battle of Alamance Creek, Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) is dead and Roger (Richard Rankin) is alive but severely damaged, left with PTSD so intense that he’s overwhelmed with flashbacks to being hanged by Tryon’s men over and over again throughout his day. It’s his journey back to the surface, back to his life, that this episode largely focused on.

It’s been three months since he was cut down from the tree, and while he has technically healed well thanks to Claire’s (Caitriona Balfe’s) medical knowledge, he’s entirely mute and refuses to speak aloud despite frantic pleas from Brianna (Sophie Skelton). She’s been trying her best to be patient but is getting a little frustrated with Roger’s lack of willingness to fight for her and for Jemmy, especially given the fact that Brianna herself has been through an equally tragic and traumatic event.

Of course, there’s no accounting for how someone deals with trauma and Brianna does recognize this and tries to be supportive. However, it takes a trip to the backcountry with Young Ian (John Bell) to survey the 5,000 acres given to Roger in compensation for him to finally realize that his wife and his life are worth pushing forward for. It will be interesting to see how he’s able to process his experience and use it to inform how he moves forward. After all, as Roger himself pointed out, he was nearly hanged to death by one of his own ancestors. If that doesn’t mess with your head, what does?

In the meantime, we are treated to some great creative touches, like showing Roger’s flashbacks in silent movie style, all black and white with speech cards across the bottom. It’s a choice you would think might come off as cheap or out of place, but it really works here stylistically. Same goes for the continual bang of Roger’s flashbacks, particularly the moment the barrel is kicked from beneath his feet and the rope pulls tight around his neck.

On another note, as I mentioned, Young Ian is back! Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire are certainly excited to see him, especially since last they did lay eyes on Jamie’s nephew, he was sacrificing himself to become part of the Mohawk tribe so that Roger could return to Brianna. It looks like he’s gone fully native, wearing the hair, tattoos, and fashion of the tribe, but it’s clear very early on that he’s haunted by something.

Anyone who’s read Diana Gabaldon’s books will know that the source of Ian’s grief is his estrangement from his wife Wakyo’teyehsnonhsa and the loss of their young daughter. However, the most we get from him on the show is that there’s a woman who’s lost to him and it causes him so much grief that he steals Claire’s water hemlock and starts brewing himself a tea with which he plans to kill himself. Roger stops him just in time by deciding he’s ready to use his voice. It looks like Young Ian will be back with us for the foreseeable, which should be interesting.

That being said, I do worry that we’re in danger of leaving too many threads dangling as we move towards the end of Season 5. There’s been quite a bit of setup for the Stephen Bonnet (Ed Speleers) showdown and given that he knows Jemmy is (possibly) his son and he may already have been to Fraser’s Ridge, I doubt he’d delay on making another move.

Of course, I don’t know that Roger is in any state to deal with Bonnet at the moment, so perhaps it’s better if his arrival is delayed. It’s just a pretty huge plot point that I fear may get lost in the mix now that Young Ian is back and clearly has his own issues to work through. Then, of course, there’s Jamie’s grief over losing Murtagh which is hanging heavy. Claire’s going to need a bit more than penicillin to get these men back on their feet, I fear.

A few other things of note:

• Maria Doyle Kennedy has such a lovely voice, so getting to hear her (well, Jocasta) sing a hymn in memory of Murtagh was a very welcome treat despite the sadness of the occasion.
• I love how randomly John Grey (David Berry) randomly pops up every now and then — he’s delightful! I know he’s gay, but I do feel like he may have a slight platonic crush on Brianna.
• It’s a shame birth control didn’t exist in the 1700s because Marsali (Lauren Lyle) seems positively worn out by all the kids she keeps popping out.

Jennifer Still is a writer and editor from New York who cares too way much about fictional characters and spends her time writing about them.

Stream Outlander Season 5 Episode 8 ("Famous Last Words") on Starz